According to researchers at the University of California-Irvine, new skin cells grow faster while you sleep, so a good evening facial routine should be a high priority. At night, the goal is to repair damage from the day’s pollution, sun and stress, as well as to hydrate since you lose more water from your skin as you snooze.

Start with a good cleansing to ensure you remove all makeup and build-up from the day. Some people don’t properly wash their face. As such, we recommend using a cleansing brush along with a gentle face cleanser in lukewarm water to wash off dirt and oil. Just don’t overdo it with the cleansing brush. If you notice any changes in your skin, minimize or stop usage immediately. If you suffer from sensitive skin, Cosmetic Trade suggests using skincare products that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Ideally, all topical treatments should be noncomedogenic, meaning that it does not clog pores.

Apply a soothing face mask to help your skincare products sink in more efficiently. There are an assortment of face masks that address various needs — from cleaning clogged pores to smoothing fine lines.

A topical retinoid will reduce clogged pores, even out skin tone and promote collagen-building, anti-aging effects. Once your face is cleansed, we recommend to pat it dry and apply a small amount of retinoid all over the face. (Be sure to avoid the area around the eye, corners of your mouth and creases of the nose.) These creams work to brighten and heal the skin. Retinoids, especially those that are prescription strength, often dry the skin out. So it should always be followed by a heavy layer of facial moisturizer.

Put on a thick layer of moisturizer all over the face and neck. The biggest difference between daytime and nighttime moisturizers is that the former are lighter in consistency and often contain sunscreen. The consistency of nighttime moisturizers may not feel or look aesthetically pleasing to the user, but they make skin soft and supple. When searching for an evening facial moisturizer, reading the ingredients label for antioxidants, peptides and vitamins C and A to help repair the “insults” from the day.

Gently tap on eye cream after putting on your night cream. Incorporating eye cream into your evening beauty routine is one simple way to maintain a youthful-looking appearance. Eye creams formulated with caffeine, which reduces puffiness, and niacinamide, which increases moisture levels, keep skin from drying out and stave off wrinkles. Watch this video for a refresher on the correct way to apply eye cream.

Bonus tip: Get some actual sleep!

If the body doesn’t rest, the evening skincare products can only go so far.